Ward 8 is clearly a ward on the move and determined to keep city leaders accountable. On Saturday, March 18th, there was a forum for at large city council candidates A. Scott Bolden and the incumbent. Bolden is seeking to unseat the two term incumbent. It was a very good forum with great questions. There was considerable concern over EMS and also about crime and why certain actions have not yet taken place to move bills forward. The Ward 8 Democratic Committee wants to make sure that its residents are knowledgeable about the candidates and learn who would best serve their interest. Kudos to Ward 8. Keep up the momentum Mr. Bolden and continue to raise the issues of key concern to DC residents and their quality of life.

I agree with the first posting, it's great that the residents of the District have the opportunity to learn about these at-large candidates. From my POV, while Mr. Mendelson calmly and systematicaly laid out his record and his thoughts for the future of DC, Mr. Bolden often looked flummoxed and even was strongly reprimanded for speaking out of turn and losing his temper right in the beginning. I'm not sure how Mr. Mendelson kept his cool while being bated up there, I wouldn't have been able to do so! We've got another 7 months to go - it should be a highly interesting campaign between the two (or maybe more) contenders!

It's amazing that Bolden was able to stand the inaccuracies flung at him by the mild mannered oppnent. Thankfully there were so many Bolden supporters there, coupled with his faith, to keep him from getting too angry at his opponent for vicious untruths. But Bolden maintained his composure in the midst of the nonsense from the opponent. Fortunately those in the audience realized what silliness the opponent was about.

Bolden continued to question why the mayor's crime bill had not been addressed when it was submitted more than a year earlier. Vote it up or down. Maybe the incumbent wants a "filibuster" like in Congress over every bill. Maybe the incumbent is so impressed with the crime statistics that he doesn't think there is any more to do.

Bolden continued to ask for an investigation of EMS. Frankly, Bolden called the incumbent to do his job and look out for the interests of the Distict of Columbia residents. The incumbent suggested that it was grand standing to do his job and exercise oversight. Some poeple might say it is doing what you're paid and elected to do.

It's all right to be a nice guy like the incumbent, but sometimes you need a little fire n your belly and you need to be effective in getting support for worthy bills that improve the quality of life for citizens. We get Mr. Nice Guy and no action and then we're suppose to treat him gently. We hope Bolden didn't scare him when he refuted the incumbent's untruths.

Ward 8 made it obvious that it is time for a change and Bolden is the one for that. We all know that from a remark in the paper long ago, that the incumbent is not banking on Ward 8 to deliver because he has put his faith in a couple of other wards. The incumbent may be in for a surprise. Don't count out Ward 8 and don't depend on other traditional votes to be there for the incumbent. Bolden has taken the message to the streets of the District of Columbia and wants all to know that he is there for them and will get what they want when he is on the council.

And in closing, congratulations Georgetown and Guy Mason for moving forward in the NCAA tournament. Onward to the Sweet 16.

Add the end of my observations and supportive comments for Mr. Bolden's remarks at the Ward 8 Dems forum March 18th, I congratulated the local teams for moving forward to the Sweet 16, NCAA Tournament. I inadvertently listed George Mason as Guy Mason. Therefore, I need to correct that.

Congratulations to Georgetown University and George Mason University for their victories. Also, congratulations to the other local George, George Washington, for going as far as the team did. We are proud of all the local teams.

Just like Bolden, we want DC and the area to do well and are cheerleaders for the District of Columbia. Go Georgetown and George Mason. Win. And Bolden, we want you to win, too.

Ha! Wow. Quite frankly, please be sure to put a "Paid for by Bolden 2006" at the end of your post, please! America, apple pie, local college basketball teams, and Bolden (you forgot to praise cute little puppies, though I'm sure you'll get another opportunity). You heard it here first, folks - Mr. Bolden wants local basketball teams to do well - now you MUST vote for him!

Poor opponent's supporter. So bent out of shape because DC residents are excited about local teams in the NCAA tournament. The guy can't even take the time to support and care about the local teams. Some of us that live here encourage our local sports teams and have the home spirit. We wish UDC could be in there and wish that George Washington was still moving forward.

Don't hate on Bolden because he believes in DC. Dont' hate on Bolden because he has supporters that believe in him and a message that resonates with voters. Don't hate on Bolden because he will be a good leader. Don't hate on Bolden because his supporters reach out to all and read everything. I think we'll put "Paid for byt the other guy" under your comments.

Once again, we wish the local teams well and are thankful to Ward 8 for giving the two at large DC Council candidates an opportunity to express their views. Bolden appreciates Ward 8 and all the rest of the citizens in DC.

And it's not so bad to like puppies, apple pie, America, sports, local college teams. It's not so bad to want the American Dream for more of our residents or for excellence in education for our young people.

Try not to hate as we communicate to the people of DC that care about our city. Don't tread on Bolden because he wants to capture the hearts of the average DC voter and wants to do well by them. He's a natural. He's a champion for the people. He doesn't consider doing his job grand standing and he doesn't believe in holding up important crime legislation for more than a year when people are dying in the streets. He doesn't twiddle his thumbs. We need responsible action. He wouldn't hold back on having a hearing on EMS. The Judiciary Committee is important and everybody else understands that. Be productive and efficient. Be emboldened.

Thank God for the mayor Barry's of the world. I relocated to the DC-Metro area approximately 5 years ago.

I was amazed at the plight of the urban poor in this region, given their close proximity to the White House and the Capitol.

Coming from the west coast one can readily see problems with the inner cities and the urban poor as well. But it is amazing when you think of the Executive and Legislative branches, not 10 miles away from some of the most oppressed and stanating areas in the country, then one asks what are they doing about it? If they are not going to address problems at their back door, our elected officials will certainly never do anything to address problems that are far away; they should change the name of the District, to the District of Washington Lobbyists, for these are the people that seem to be getting the only response from these [lie-aticians].

Keep up the good work, and with respect to Mr. Barry's substance abuse problem, he reminds of Noah. After Noah's monumental task of building an Ark, securing all of the animals and preserving mankind, upon securing dry lancd again, he built a vineyard. And from the vineyard he made winde. And with the wine (cognac maybe), he got drunk! After all that great men go through we can only wonder why great men who carry such a heavy burden turn to substances for relief.

I wish you a speedy recovery, along George Bush and Rush Limbaugh, other notable substance abusers!

seriously dc wire... are you thinking about requiring commenters to log in or register? i'm not sure who has the more saturated anonymous comment machine at this point in the race - mr. rees or mr. bolden... but at least they're both frivilous and entertaining to read.

But at least Bolden's shills don't "grandstand", eh?

Don’t hate. Don’t alienate. Participate. Ameliorate. Appreciate. Congratulate. Communicate. Generate a message that will resonate with the electorate.

It is so sad to see writers criticize the writer or some other candidate rather than speak with authority about something. It's a good day to talk about issues and qualifications for the Council. All we read from some people is how they are essentailly down on the system.

That's why Bolden is moving forward because he talks to the people about improving the quality of life and he demands accountability. He is not sitting around wasting space critizing the Post for their blog or talking about the writers and their right to freedom of speech. If some candidates have little to say or don't have much to say of substance, then that is on them.

Bolden has a message and likes communicating with people. He is a leader, not a puppet or whiner. And he tries to respect other members of the Council who have had their ups and downs but who are elected leaders.

Furthermore, he is here to help move Ward 8 forward as far as they want to go. That's Leadership for Change. Some writers should try being a little more positive and not so negative.

Now let's get back to the program and talk about issues and in this blog, a little about Ward 8, please. Bolden is doing all right in case you care.

Oh, and by the way, stop grand standing lest people think one is doing the job he is supposed to do.

The Anonymous Blog Puppet
by the Player Hater Poet

Sometimes he opines late into the night,
Sometimes he blogs madly just trying to bite,
But like a broken turntable, the message is always the same,
Typing on and on about hate and Ward 8.

Says he wants to debate and rail on the issues,
Says Bolden's the man while the other needs tissue,
But the anonymous blog puppet doesn't understand,
His arguments are vapid and getting rather bland.

We all like a cheerleader, so rosy and perk,
But too often this guy just comes off as a jerk,
So we name him DC Wire's first blog puppet ever,
And can't wait to see the strings behind this endeavor.

I like that. Wish I could do the poetry thing. Chat with you on the next blog. It's about the issues. And still Bolden's the man. We need leadership for change. Let's try that. Later. I love this. Let's give some others a chance to opine if you will. Maybe we'll raise Shakespeare for his contribution.

I get it now! We've had it completely wrong!

The whole Bolden/Playa Hata "street talking" idiocy is just a ruse. Did you catch the dead giveaway?

"Don’t hate. Don’t alienate. Participate. Ameliorate. Appreciate. Congratulate. Communicate. Generate a message that will resonate with the electorate."

IT'S MICHAEL HUTCHENSE! He didn't really die! He just left Austrailia, moved to DC, and joined the campaign staff of a second rate Council candidate!

Dude, that's one major step down. Plus, you've gotta be really depressed about that voice clone the guys from INXS brought in to replace you.

Though "Pretty Vegas" is kind of catchy.

Still don't get it. Some of us are still stuck on personal attacks. The election is about what citizens want. We try to convey that every way we can, but some still come back and try to tell jokes and demean others. We're not about that. When you're ready to be serious for the citizens' sake, let's discuss the issues negatively impacting Ward 8 and the rest of the city. Let's talk about how we can improve education. How can we increase affordable housing? How do we reduce crime? These are the types of things citizens are looking at, and not joking on a blog/website.

Let's rise above the playful banter and make this blog a meaningful, educational exchange for civilized folks to read. Personal attacks seem to be the order of the day for the other guy, but if that makes you feel good we understand and we're here to help you. Must be masking some type of insecurities. We'll try to keep up with you with all this writing.

However, in the interest of the city and the citizens, let's talk about why we need new leadership in this At Large City Council seat and why the time is right in 2006. This is a very serious election and not something to play with. After reading all this, it is clear, it is imperative that we must get Bolden on the Council. We need a champion, an effective leader.

All these negative remarks are probably a diversion anyway so we won't continue to ask for an investigation of EMS through the oversight of the Judiciary Committee. If we keep responding to this stuff, perhaps we will forget that we have been waiting over a year for the mayor's crime bill to come out of committee. Now, we're staying on target and on message. Call for the question.

When will we get answers to the EMS questions and the crime bill question? Why is the opponent moving so slow when lives are at stake? We'll save the rest of the questions for the next blog. It's time for change.

Enjoy your day fellow bloggers.

Also, learn from the article. Barry said, "I encourage our people to stop beefing ... start talking. If Rev. Wilson and I can do it, this community can do it."

Try that and perhaps there will be no need for the negativity and game playing. We may be able to focus on relevancy in today's election cycle.

May peace be with you. And may you be bold in your endeavors with bold leadership.

To the Bolden fan:

Why do you continue to think everyone else commenting on this blog supports Mendelson? I've yet to read any comment that supports his campaign, but you seem to see it everywhere. Rather, all I read are people making fun of the tiresome pro-Bolden comments saturating the blog.

How that man, Barry, has the cheek to carry on after all these years, I know not !

Glad to hear that not everyone is for the other guy (incumbent). We Bolden fans love to stay on top of the issuse and talk to the public. We love to share information. We talked on this blog a lot because there wasn't much input from others and we wanted to talk about Ward 8. We are ready to resume the discussion about Ward 8 and other topics. We have thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue though and the little bashing here and there. But there is a city to lead, and we must make sure that Bolden is there to do so.

Isn't life grand.

By the way, if we Bolden fans weren't talking back, you would have no one to talk to on this blog. We're glad that we could be there for you and could offer some direction on the emerging issues of the day. We're excited about change in the District of Columbia and we are eager to do what we can to make it better for the citizens. That is why we read and respond and take the time to enjoy everyone's entries. Some of the remarks are so amusing that we can't get angry. We relish freedom of speech. Now, we know there are a lot of Bolden fans and they are here to stay. Can we get to issues and leave personalities alone? Can we all just get along?

If there are so many, why do they apparently all sound the same?

Rees, is that you?

I don't think the poster is Rees. But there's a distinctly Reesian wafte to this business of inappropriately hijacking blog comment threads, while pretending it's more than one person. Rees is a supposedly all pro-Bolden. I'm inclined to think there's a connection of some kind. Maybe Rees passed on his Genius Campaigning Technique to him ;-) If so - run away, Bolden, run away! Don't let him drag you down too!

We'll pray for you guys. We'll continue to keep it real. We're all having fun and guess somebody stops when the fun is over or the blog is changed. It's interesting how some want to know who others are, yet never reveal themselves and expect others to fall for the game and tell who they are. So picky with never an issue to discuss, but some have the life where apparently they can do that.

So sad IS Rees, though. Obviously.

Is Rees a mythological creature or something? Methinks you protest too much. Might you be Rees or a reincarnation? Might you have latent Rees tendencies? Glad to make your day.

Now, what was the original subject of the blog? The embrace felt around Ward 8? Are you and Rees involved there?

On the offchance that the poster above is actually inquiring about Rees (it's hard to tell from writing - I suspect it's rather a Reesian attempt at snarkiness) just google "jonathan Rees" + "DC Council" as well as jrrees1955 and "jonathan R. Rees". Try the tenleytown and gloverpark yahoogroups archives, long about last July through October. (be sure to check the "view source" option to see how many pro-Rees posters all had the exact same address codes). You'll find LOTs of fascinating posts by him and people claiming not to be him. He's clogged up every listserve in town with rants and attacks and outright lies, but somehow always manages to come up with some tortuous explanation allegedly "proving" that it wasn't him at all. VERY weird. Warning: Some of the JRRees1955 links are of an adult nature.

Appreciate the information.

WP:

Please devote the monetary resources necessary to keep this blog current. I think this blog is a great idea BUT, after 5 days on the same (hijacked inside baseball) topic, it's turned into an "Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here" type of place.

Suggestions: Soldiers' Home, the Mayor's "something for everyone" budget, the West End Library+Public Property Redevelopment, GU Boathouse+C&O Canal NHP+GT Waterfront Park+Whitehurst Freeway, Anacostia Trolly, GA Ave Streetscape, Jack Evans' PAC problems...

Good thoughts, Mark. Add Mr. Harold Brazil's budding at-large bid to that list, too.

Did everybody read the City Paper article about Washington Post blogs? Apparently the Post wants its writers to provide content for this and other blogs on the site. But only SOME employees actually get paid more for the additional work.

It's no wonder the content here is so infrequently updated. The Post is a bunch of cheapskates and wants something for nothing.

Pretty pathetic.

Brazil relies too much on charm, at the expense of substance, to be interesting. Sort of the anti-Medelsohn.

Yeah, I read that article, too. That's why I specified "monetary resources". The blog already has A-list writers.

They can free up cash for that idiot Ben and "Red America".

I guess we can see Brady's priorities, can't we?

But what can DCers expect? At less than 10% of the Washingtonian Mag..er..Washington Post's potential readership, we're merely the stage upon which WP pirouettes for a larger audience...

We must forgive the slipper-in-face relationship!

Well, I guess we start up the propaganda machine again since this blog is not changing. Glad to see everybody still hanging in there waiting in anticipation for more prose.

That is interesting that there may be another person in the at large race as was posted by commenters.

Have there been any other forums for at large candidates lately?

Anyway, Scott Bolden for At Large City Council member; Bolden 2006. "Leadership for Change; We can do better" and all that.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

How is the race for the Chairman of the DC Council looking? That is going to be an interesting two person race. Two very qualified candidates seeking to represent all of DC.

Campaigning via comments thread is tacky, invasive and inappropriate. No votes for Bolden or Rees! I expect my candidates to comport themselve in a halfway dignified manner, not like sleazebag telemarketers.

Previous poster, ee understand your issue and accept the fact that you will not vote for certain candidates. That's your right and we're glad to help you make any decisions you need to make. This blog has been up for quite a few days and that is all that was left to do was to write what came to mind. That's life. That's what reasonably, intelligent people do take matters to the next level and not waste valuable readership space. When the blog changes, we all can go back to talking about the emerging issues of the day. Don't blame the candidates because their supporters enjoy talking about them and promoting them. We're proud of our candidates and our enthusiasm and pride show. That's the excitement of campaigning in D.C. and the willingness of others to get out front and communicate with people. Hate the game, not the player. When there is a good candidate, you talk about them. Bolden is worthy of positive talk and promotion.

Now it seems like others are taking advantage of using this blog to sling their arrows of outrageous fortune and to trade barbs. The blog started out about two strong men torn apart and getting back together again. It was about Ward 8 and it's leaders. Now it seems very few comments are along that line. Some of the comments have been disingenuos as some try to appear holier-than-thou. Seems like we're not the only ones being political.

This is an election year and we all expect that political messages will be sent and received here and there. We are all intelligent, consenting adults. If there is a forum for discussion and DC citizens are involved, then candidates' supporters are there. Plain and simple. We have to read and care about DC citizens; therefore, we communicate on this blog as so many others enjoy doing. We value strong leadership and will continue to shout about it at opportune times. Now back to Ward 8 and the leaders there. Glad to make your day.

smug much?

You miss the point altogether. One's campaign speaks volumes about the type of leader one would be, and about important issues of character. Keep posting campaign spam under aliases, keep losing potential supporters in the blogosphere. If your understanding of legislative issues is as misguided as your understanding of the mores of internet subcultures, God help your hypothetical constituents.

Look forward to meeting you, Mr. Previous Poster that posts his/her name on a regular basis and is not posting anonymously. Holier-than-thou mentality, to be sure. There seems to be a precise prescription for others to follow, but a different set of standards for oneself. Only you can hide behind a name. No matter, we are not interested in your name but in your substance and character.

Too bad that in the District we hear more griping and finger pointing that solutions and possibilities. There are too many giving directions and not following them themselves.

So to be clear, some of us will write what we deem important and will read as such. Others can continue to pontificate on what is right and wrong for others to do on this Washington Post blog paid for by advertisers and subscribers. And on occasion, some of us will address issues that we feel are important or interesting in spite of the negativity of some. The goal is to educate and learn. We're here to go the distance.

What another great day to be an American. Be blessed, not stressed and have a great day.

Echo Chamber? Anyone?

Were you a hall monitor because you keep monitoring everybody else? Or are you the CIA, FBI?

I'm done picking on the "writers" of this blog. Why should they have to do this for free on top of their jobs, when Post.com can seem to find a chunk of change to pay Little Lord Fauntleroy for "Red America".

I's be a bit pissed off if I was the DC reporting crew.